Dig Out Your Soul

by

Oasis

Edit

O.k., I liked these guys from the start. Liked their music, their attitude, the covers, even the videos when I got to see them (usually don't care about those).

Does that make me a fan? Probably. Would I buy anything they spit out? NO!

This, however, I suggest you get. It's fantastic. Although other fans over here think it doesn't quite reach Definitely Maybe or (What's the story)Morning Glory? I don't agree.

The guys moved on - not in a revolutionary way, but still. I think it's wrong to compare anything to the early masterpieces. This is another time; the band has evolved and brought us this: A new Marvel of their art.

"Someone tell me I'm dreaming, the freaks are rising up through the floor" - the moment I heard that line in Bag It Up, the first song on the album, I was 70% convinced this was for me. The other 30% followed with the next few chords.

Rock at its best.

Of course the typical Oasis melody patterns are strewn all over the place, (as f.e. in The Shock of The Lightning or The Turning) which once again doesn't mean it is a copy of anything they did before. As I said, they evolved.

Noel (vocals, guitar, drums, keys and electronics) wrote six, Liam (vocals) three and Gem (guitar, bass, keys) and Andy Bell (bass, guitar, keys) each penned one song. Zak Starkey plays drums again.

My favorites are the ballad I'm Outta Time and the Mid-Tempo Falling Down, but I also like the stomping Get Off Your High Horse Lady or The Turning and Waiting For The Rapture.

Oh, and did I mention the booklet-art? Love it!

If you ever liked what they did, get this.

If you never bought any of their stuff because you believed others saying Oasis being too close to the Beatles but you liked the Beatles from the days when they made Revolver, get this, stop thinking and just listen (and tell those "others" they don't know what they're talking about - though it's clear the Gallaghers are fans: I'm Outta Time contains an excerpt from a BBC John Lennon interview.)

If ever you're still undecided, get this too. I swear you'll grow into it.

First things first, Oasis will never again be as relevant as they were during the height of their popularity in the mid 90's. The musical landscape has changed far too much for that and Oasis have never been a band to explore new territories. That being said, Dig Out Your Soul turns out to be one of their best efforts so far this decade. For the first time this millenium, Noel Gallagher and company have taken a more relaxed apporach to their songwriting. They don't try to force Beatlesque melodies or cram their songs with too many hooks. Instead, they have delivered a no frills, straight ahead rock record. This approach, as it turns out, works quite well. Most of the cuts on this album are arena ready anthems that go down smoothly. The songs may not electrify the way they did back in the day, but they sound better than the stuff the band has been churning out on recent efforts. For a band that is now in it's second decade together and who have been dismissed as nothing more than plunderers of the Beatles' glory, this record is a small triumph. It's a reminder that Oasis still have talent. Maybe if they truly dig out their souls on their next album, we'll really have something to talk about.